Like the great Emperors of the past, Sir Alex Ferguson will
attempt to rule Rome in three weeks’ time after Manchester United
produced an awesome attacking display to destroy Arsenal.
A fortuitous opener from Park Ji-sung was followed by a
thunderous 40-yard free-kick from Cristiano Ronaldo to effectively
book a Champions League final date with Chelsea or Barcelona on May
27 after only 11 minutes.
Ronaldo capped a fine performance and drew howls of glee from
David Beckham, who had made the trip from Milan to witness a
victory that will go alongside that staggering win over Juventus in
1999 that the former England skipper was a part of, by sliding home
a third goal, his 25th of the season.
It was not quite a perfect night for United. How could it be
when Darren Fletcher ended it in disbelief at the red card for a
tackle on Cesc Fabregas which will rule him out of the Italian
job.
However, it was not far off, leaving United to await events at
Stamford Bridge tomorrow with so many neutrals, if not a Chelsea
side hell-bent on revenge, hoping Barcelona set up what would be a
dream decider.
No amount of meticulous planning can legislate for bad luck.
It is the unknown factor that, in an instant, can screw any
amount of hopes and dreams into the tightest ball and throw them
out of the highest window, never to be seen again.
Kieran Gibbs has not been a first-team regular very long.
Fitness permitting, he has almost a decade and a half in front of
him in the Arsenal side.
It is a fair bet, at the end of his career, the 18-year-old
still regards the horror that unfolded eight minutes into what was
such an eagerly-awaited contest as the worst moment he had to
endure.
In his head, Gibbs was about to control Ronaldo’s cutback, then
decide whether to play a short pass out of defence or present
Manuel Almunia with a routine clearance. Fate had other plans.
Instead, poor Gibbs lost his footing and hit the ground with a
thump. Like lightning, Park seized on the loose ball, delicately
lifting it over Almunia, whose arrival came just too late.
The United contingent went delirious. Fans, coaches, manager,
players, Beckham alike all knew what it meant. They knew the
prospect of Arsenal getting three to go through was so remote to be
beyond comprehension.
But if United’s opener came courtesy of good fortune, their next
was the result of audacity, mixed with high ability.
To even think of going for goal from the spot when Robin van
Persie had clattered into Ronaldo would be dismissed by most
professionals as foolhardy.
Yet, in Porto three weeks ago, the world player of the year
drove home a shot measured at exactly 39.1 yards. As Ronaldo
stepped back and waited from even further out, ready to unleash his
missile, Almunia knew what to expect.
Indeed, it could be argued that from such distances, not
goalkeeper should be beaten.
But as Ronaldo let fly, with venom, and watched his shot dip and
flicker, Almunia was powerless to prevent it ripping into the
net.
If three was unlikely, four was an impossibility, turning the
remaining 79 minutes into an extended wake, leaving Arsene Wenger
on the bench wondering what had hit him, knowing his Champions
League obsession will not end in Roman triumph.
In fairness, Arsenal tried to rally. It was just that by pushing
forward, they left wide open gaps that United are too experienced
to ignore.
Almunia’s fingertips denied Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo’s header from
the corner whistled wide, then two more free-kicks from the latter
were saved.
When the Portuguese player cut inside Emmanuel Eboue, on as a
half-time replacement to put Gibbs out of his misery, the shot
would have found the bottom corner had Almunia not denied him.
There was nothing the Spaniard could do when United attacked
again, Ronaldo supplying the finish to Rooney’s cross.
As his players cavorted in glee, Ferguson ordered them to tone
down their celebrations out of respect to the hosts.
It was the only mercy the Red Devils showed all night, although
for Fletcher there was a nasty sting in the tail.
The Scot got studs on the ball before sending Fabregas flying in
the penalty area, earning him a red card which will rule him out of
the final. Van Persie impressively converted the spot-kick – but it
was little consolation for Arsenal.
